Hair volumizing ornament and method

ABSTRACT

The present invention consists of a small, dual-purpose hair accessory which adds height and/or volume to a woman&#39;s hair, as well as adding sparkle. The invention also includes a method for using this accessory. This device adds both volume and sparkle by being predominantly hidden and submerged in the hair, but also by being slightly visible. This invention would be particularly useful for a woman with fine or thinning hair.

This application claims the benefit of my earlier-filed provisional application 60/690,530, filed on Jun. 14, 2005. REFERENCES CITED U.S. Patent Documents 1506272 August, 1924 Scherer 2406376 August, 1946 Huppert

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a hair accessory which simultaneously adds volume and sparkle. Specifically, the accessory has an elongated shape and is predominantly submerged in the hair, but is also slightly visible. Because the device serves a decorative as well as a therapeutic function, it may be considered an ornament. The accessory may be fashioned of a number of materials, such as fabric, plastic, or wire, and the sparkle may be produced by a number of agents, such as sequins, gems, ink, or paint. This accessory is not a hairpiece and is not fashioned of hair or simulated hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fine or thinning hair has been a problem for many women throughout history, especially women whose self image and facial contours could benefit from a fuller hairstyle. Various means have been employed to add volume to hair, such as rollers or curlers, permanent waves, curling irons, and hairpieces. There are drawbacks to all of these methods. Permanent waves and curling irons tend to damage hair, especially with repeated use. Hair rollers or curlers are used by inserting the hair into them and/or repeatedly winding the hair around them and leaving the hair in this position, until it is temporarily capable of retaining an increased volume on its own. This process is time-consuming and generally unsightly. Hair pieces must be matched precisely to the hair of the wearer, and since they carry the stigma of being “fake,” they must be carefully concealed.

In the 1920's and again in the 1940's, it was fashionable to use various foundational rolls or other supports that were left in the hair to give it more height or a fuller appearance. Two examples of these are the “Hair Form,” invented by Warren C. and Evelyn D. Scherer in 1924 (U.S. Pat. No. 1,506,272) and the “Hair Foundation,” invented by William Huppert in 1946 (U.S. Pat. No. 2,406,376). These foundational devices were relatively innocuous, but had to be completely hidden and to remain hidden—not an easy task, especially for a woman with fine or thinning hair, nor, I suspect, for a woman who spent time outdoors on windy days.

None of the above means of achieving volume were combined with a means of adding sparkle, which is a unique feature of the present invention, in addition to its ease of use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to avoid the drawbacks of the various devices listed in the previous section. It is a simple mechanical apparatus for adding height and/or volume to hair. It avoids the application of heat or chemical treatments. It avoids the time-consuming and often unsightly process of using curlers or rollers. Unlike rollers or curlers, it is simply inserted and pinned or clipped into place. The effect is immediate and is easily achieved. Hair does not have to be wound around the device a number of times or threaded through it. The device can be attached to wet hair or dry hair, close to the scalp, and can remain in the hair, rather than having to be removed. Thus the wearer does not have to go through a lengthy waiting period, to be seen in public. Unlike hair pieces, it does not pretend to be the woman's own hair. It therefore avoids this stigma and any embarrassment a woman might feel, should it become displaced or not succeed in matching the color of the hair completely.

This invention furthermore seeks to fulfill the dual function of adding volume and adding sparkle to hair. The sparkling agent may be either an integral part of the material and basic structure of the ornament, so that by definition it runs completely along its length, or it may be attached to the top of the ornament, in the form of small sequins, gems, paint, ink, et cetera, that may run partially along its length.

There are at lease three advantages to this “sparkle.” It adds an element of beauty and intrigue to the wearer's hair. Also, it permits the wearer and others to view the whole device as an ornament, rather than as a means of ameliorating a physical weakness that the wearer might have (overly fine or thin hair). Ornamental objects are generally objects of pride, and not of shame. Thus, the woman can feel attractive while wearing it, without feeling uneasy and worried that someone might discover it. Finally, although the wearer is best served if the ornament matches her hair color, close matches are difficult to achieve. The sparkle deflects any mismatches to some extent, making them less noticeable, as light reflects differently on sparkling surfaces anyway.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Claims #1 and #2 give a general description of the ornament, which may be created and decorated in a number of ways. I have developed one particular design, which is illustrated in the drawing. I do not intend my claim to be limited to this one design, however. The circles in the drawing represent sparkling elements, such as small sequins. These sparkling elements are attached to the top of the ornament, which is largely a flap which rolls around past the lower edge of the ornament, to the back. In this design, one prong of a clip can be inserted from the side and attached to the flap in the back. When worn, the other prong of the clip would be attached to the hair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As stated in claim #1, the present invention is between 2″-5″ long at a preponderance of points, ¾″-2″ wide at a preponderance of points, and ¼″-1½″ high at a preponderance of points. It has a sparkling agent running partially or completely along its length. Being worn in the hair, it has a dual function—to add height and/or volume and to add sparkle. The ornament is predominantly hidden, but the hair is arranged over it, so that the decorative element partially shines through.

This apparatus may be created using various materials, methods, and designs. The following description is meant as one example of how this ornament can be fashioned. Although I have found this to be the preferred method, I do not wish my claim to be limited to this. The body of the apparatus could be made of a number of materials, i.e., plastic, cork, or wire. My preference, however, is to make it of two small pieces of fabric. Fabric is the material of choice, because it can be elegant, washable, and flexible, and can be easily inserted and withdrawn from the hair without snagging the hair.

The matching fabric pieces are cut into matching diamond shapes, in which the points of the diamond shapes are blunted or rounded. The pieces are then sewn, glued, or otherwise attached together along the edges, and turned right-side out, thereby eliminating the raw edges. The apparatus is then loosely rolled, slightly flattened, and glued to stay in this rolled-up position. Because the finished ornament is layered, it will be easy to insert the prong of a clip underneath the outermost layer. It is preferred that the fabric be approximately diamond-shaped before it is rolled, so that when it is rolled, the middle will be thicker than the ends—thus facilitating an easier blending into the hair.

To create an ornamental effect, one may use fabric that comes pre-made with sparkling or glittering elements in it, or one may draw, paint, or glue sparkling agents along the mid-portion or the length of the ornament, on the top surface, so that some of the sparkle can show through individual strands of hair, when worn.

To wear the ornament, the woman would do well to obtain one that is approximately the same color as her hair. She then decides where in her hair she most wants or needs additional volume, to suit the contours of her face. She arranges to submerge the ornament in that location, by holding some of the hair out of the way and by clipping the ornament to the remaining hair, close to the scalp. She then sweeps the hair she has been holding back over the ornament and pins or clips this hair into position so that it mostly covers the ornament and is lifted up by it. Then, depending upon how much of an ornamental effect she desires, she can adjust some of the strands of hair that are on top of the ornament slightly, to allow as much or as little sparkle as she likes to shine through.

As most hairstyles are at least partially symmetrical, the wearer will most likely use at least two ornaments, one on each side of her head. 

1. An apparatus worn in the hair, said apparatus being between 2″-5″ long at a preponderance of points, ¾″-2″ wide at a preponderance of points, and ¼-1½″ high at a preponderance of points, the body of said apparatus being predominantly and intentionally hidden by submergence in the wearer's hair, but also being slightly visible on its top through the wearer's individual hair strands.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 has the dual functions of adding height and/or volume to the hair and also of adding sparkle, the sparkling agent being bold or subtle and running partially or completely along the length of the apparatus.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 requires a clip, pin, or other fastening device, the specifics of which are not a part of this invention, and which may be attached to the apparatus by the manufacturer, seller, hairdresser, or wearer and then attached to the wearer's hair.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 is not a hairpiece and is not made of real or simulated hair.
 5. A method of using the apparatus of claim 1, in which the apparatus is attached close to the scalp, nearby hair is swept over it, and the hair on top of the apparatus is adjusted, so as to allow the decorative agent partial visibility. 